Just looked at video Billy, I have seen this before and if I was to do something like this I would use a DMXsystem running off a PC rather than letting the sound control the lighting. a Lighting designer would sit down with the soundwave on his screen and programme lighting cues to the musice these cues would then have lights/xmas lights assigned to them. The video is a well choreographed son et luminaire show unlike a random sound to light controller. This is a very similar control system to the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel just a scaled down version.

Here is some tips for lighting puppets:

When lighting theatre your main focus is on the face you must be able to see the face well so as you cans see all the expressions. With puppets expressions are not as obvious ie. Smile/frown, eyes, eyebrows etc. I saw this because not all puppets have facial features that change/move. I myself have a puppet with no eyes but he still has a character. So lighting the face is not as important as the form of the puppet. You need to see the movements of the puppet these define its mood etc. Very much like a dance show you need to see the form not the face.

Colour: can play a very important role in setting the scene a bright warm colour can mean happiness/sunshine good mood, where as blue is cold, winter, sdaness etc. The other consideration is the colour of your puppet eg a blue puppet under a red light will appeare purple/black or under a yellow light it will look green. (For more info research lighting effect on costume)

I will try and type up some work sheets on this and post on here.

Tom Powell

Here is a simplfied explanation of how lighting affects costumes it will be the same for puppets.
Light colour affects costume in really very basic ways.  Under white light, which contains all the colours of the spectrum, costumes look fine - for example a red dress will look red because there is red light within the white light to be reflected from the dress.  If you remove some of the spectrum and turn the stage blue the red dress will turn black because there is no red light for it to reflect.  If you add a little red light to a blue stage the dress will look red again.

If under white light you want the red dress to look more vibrant then add some red light and the colours will stand out more.

To do experiments get a small torch (not an L.E.D torch) and a lighting colour swatch book which you can request from a colour manufacturer or pop into your local stage lighting supplier who will give you one. http://www.leefilters.com/lighting/  0r  http://www.rosco.com/sbreqs/index.cfm

Then turn off the lights and have some fun with colour.

I know this is post is about led technology and I am saying not to use an LED torch but if you use standard theatre lighting then it will be a standard fillament bulb and you will need to use coloured gel to change the colour. With LED you have a red, green and blue colour LED's and by mixing these you can get the different colours below is an image of the lighting colourwheel this will explain what I mean and give an idea as to how RGB Led fixtures work.



Sorry about waffeling on but I know what I mean its hard to explain easily. I am not very good at written explanations.

Standard Lighting - Fillament bulb - yellowish white colour - you will need to change the colour with a filter gel - high power usage - gives out heat - 1 lamp = 1 colour (unless you use a scroller)

LED Light - Red Green Blue Led's - Will produce a bright blueish white - you will need to "mix" the colour you want - low power usage - no heat output- 1 lamp = 26.6 million colour or there abouts.

Do you think there is a limitation to the LED's when it comes to color compared to the old standard filament bulb and gel? I know there is a commercial now for a popular flat screen that say's it has a yellow added to the basic RGB spectrum that makes the picture "superior".  Are there some die hard lighting designers that resist LED because of that? I doubt that well ever effect any puppet productions, but then again maybe it does.  Perhaps the difference in lighting for video and stage would come into play on whether you use LED or standard lighting.

P.S.  I really love the lights that skip across the yard in the videos that Billy linked to.  Hmm.... would this be considered puppetry?  Ok I know that is really pushing it but that house really seems to be alive and have character.

Has anyone used one of these:  http://www.concertsinyourhome.com/lightshow.html
It's made by Q-Lighting  http://www.q-lighting.com/

I have had my eye on it for a year or so.

Never used one but it does look pretty sweet. Not sure how great it would be for just general light but would make great color washes and effects.  My only question for the seller would be if they offered replacement units. LEDs last a long time but do eventually burn out. Since they are modular I am sure replacement would not be an issue just could not see any info on that.

We have been using a 400W Cannon Blacklight.  It is heavy and hot but we have it mounted to a pipe in the ceiling and out of the way so that isn't tooooo bad.  Anyway, right now it is not working.  I have an electrician looking at it because it will not "glow". Of course it is just past the warranty.  I bought a new bulb and that didn't work either.  If I need to replace it, would the 16LED UV light bar be as good.

Pat,
I don't think LED lighting works for Blacklight.  I tried to find reference to "16LED UV light bar" but did not see it. I guess it is possible that it some how simulates the same effect that a blacklight gives off. I know many many years ago did a show with blacklight puppets and had a lens for the spot light that was supposed to simulate UV but really did not do very well. Still had to rely on true UV bulbs mounted around the stage.

I really must search before I post... I stand corrected.
http://www.blacklight.com/items/CHTFXUVLED

And then for comparison ...
http://www.wildfirefx.com/led-black-light.html



I think ultimately a true UV bulb is better then LED, but they may be just fine for you. The second video actually compares how the paints you can get from wildfire react to each type of light.